Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On 6 December 2022 two song artists, Mr. Sok Chumnor and Ms. Van Nyla have taken to social media to protest the settlement proposed by the perpetrator of a traffic accident, which occurred on 5 December 2022 at 2:00am on the Chroy Changvar Bridge in Phnom Penh.
The traffic accident involved a LEXUS NX200t, which was driven by a man hitting two adults and a one-and-a-half-month-old baby on a motorcycle at high speed, causing them to be flung onto the road.

The perpetrator immediately attempted to drive the car away from the accident scene, but was stopped by the police and immediately sent to the police station. However, after interrogation, the perpetrator proposed a settlement with the authorities, who agreed that the car driver would pay $ 2,500 in compensation to the victims to end the case completely.

However, news of this settlement has caused much dissatisfaction to the public on social media, and many commenters have strongly urged the authorities and pro-bono lawyers of Prime Minister HE to help review in this case, as this amount of money is not adequate to compensate the cost of the care needed for the baby victim.

In particular, Mr. Sok Chumnor, a well-known songwriter, and Ms. Van Nyla, aired their complaints on Facebook concerning the settlement and demanded absolute justice for the families of the victims.
Mr. Sok Chumnor wrote: "I would like to request the volunteer lawyers of Samdech Techo HE, Ministry of Justice, to help the victims of this case find justice, where the perpetrators receive an appropriate sentence, and also provide reasonable compensation for drunk driving, speeding, hitting and seriously injuring a baby, who is now in emergency due to the hit and run.

Is human life worth only USD 2,500?... The perpetrators should at least take full responsibility for the cost of the hospital and other accommodation until all three of them recover. Please do not let the perpetrator go just for USD 2,500.

The baby, currently being treated at a hospital with an oxygen tube attached to the nose to facilitate airflow, is in critical condition after being hit by the car. The father, who was seriously injured, is still unconscious, while the mother is also seriously injured but is conscious.

December 6, 2022
Information minister joins celebrities in calling for justice for children who were victim of hit-and-run

This morning, Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, requested the authorities to respond quickly to the case of a drunk driver who landed two, including an infant, in the hospital.

The Minister of Information posted the Facebook post after many celebrities shared news on the accident and called it a social injustice.

Two people and an infant were crossing the Chroy Changva Bridge when a luxury car drove in the same direction, as with the motorcycle they were on and crashed into them. According to witnesses the car was speeding and after the crash escaped from the scene.

The car was stopped by police and the driver was sent to the Chroy Changva Sangkat Administration Post.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501197509/ ... t-and-run/

UPDATE

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): Police continue to investigate the case of a traffic accident which occurred on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 2:10am, in front of the 4th light pole on the east side of the old Chroy Changvar bridge, Sangkat Chroy Changvar, Khan Chroy Changvar, Phnom Penh, where a white LEXUS NX200t, with license plate Phnom Penh 2BB-9989, collided with the back of a motorbike. The white HONDA SCOOPY with license plate number 1B-9978, was traveling in the same direction when it was hit by the car, which then fled to Keo Chenda Street in Sangkat Chroy Changva, Khan Chroy Changva.

According to the police, the Lexus was driven by Som Nori Tikha, male, 19 years old, residing at No. 53, Keo Chenda Street, Village 3, Sangkat Chroy Changva, Khan Chroy Changva, Phnom Penh. He was arrested later on December 5, 2022.


The victims on the motorbike were Hong Rattana, alias Sveth, 33 years old, scavenger, (who was seriously injured and hospitalized at the Cambodia-China Friendship Hospital,) accompanied by his 31-year-old wife and their 2 month old baby boy (also badly injured.) All three of them live in a rented room at Village 22, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh.

The Information and Quick Reaction Team of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police confirmed that, in the case of this accident, all parties agreed to the civil compensation of $ 2,500 without any coercion at the Road Traffic Police Office yesterday on December 5, 2022. (Please see the attached agreement below to end the compensation and the letter of withdrawal of the victim's mother).




On the other hand, according to the road traffic law, following the inspection of the scene and the traces of the vehicle, the expert concluded that the cause of the accident was that the driver of the car was driving too fast, in a careless manner, and driving in a state of intoxication, with alcohol 0.53 Mg / L , and he will be fined 2 million Riels according to the new Article 10 of Sub-Decree No. 39 dated March 17, 2020.

And despite the termination of civil damages, the legal accident report is still pending, and the specialized forces are building a case to be sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for further proceedings.

Clearly the driver of the car should be hit hard with legal and financial penalties out of this for simply being drunk.
However, there’s the difficult situation of 3 people on a motorbike in a traffic environment with very little effective regulation. Near chaos.

It brings to mind the case where a military high ranker’s driving killed a young child, and then he counter-sued the parents. I wonder what came of that case.
Everyday, people are riding bikes in heavy traffic in a manner bordering on suicidal. Only yesterday, the Tuk-Tuk that I was in nearly hit a moto with 3 schoolgirls on, when they tried to cross the main road.

How much compensation? Well, fairly clearly the driver of the car should be financially liable for the kid’s care and recovery. That isn’t compensation, that’s just covering the bills. This ballpark $2500 dollars seems to be the standard settlement in just about any road accident, and it’s lazy. When people agree to this, are they blinded by the large sum of money to presented in one lump, with no comprehension of the costs that might be coming?

Freightdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 07, 2022 2:55 am
How much compensation? Well, fairly clearly the driver of the car should be financially liable for the kid’s care and recovery. That isn’t compensation, that’s just covering the bills. This ballpark $2500 dollars seems to be the standard settlement in just about any road accident, and it’s lazy. When people agree to this, are they blinded by the large sum of money to presented in one lump, with no comprehension of the costs that might be coming?

Most people have got no clue what a serious treatment in a hospital can cost when shit hits the fan, and 2,500 sounds like 5 to 10 months of salary. Add the confusion and adrenaline and you have an explanation I guess.

UPDATE
Ministry responds to social media outrage in drunken driver case
Long Kimmarita | Publication date 07 December 2022 | 10:57 ICT
Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin said the compensation paid over injuries caused by the driver of a luxury car who crashed into a motorcycle carrying three people, which resulted in serious injuries including to a two-month-old infant, would not exempt him from possible legal prosecution.

Malin was responding to the public reaction on social media over speculations that the $2,500 the driver's family reportedly paid to the victims had effectively closed the case or prevented criminal charges over it.

The accident happened at 2am earlier this month on the bridge connecting to the Chroy Changvar peninsular in the capital’s Chroy Changvar district. A young man was reportedly driving while intoxicated and hit a motorcycle from behind while going at high speed.

The three people on the motorcycle – its driver, a mother and her infant – were reportedly sent sprawling over a distance of about 100m and were all seriously injured.

The motorcycle driver, Hong Ratha, 33, was taken to Cambodia-China Friendship Hospital and was in serious but stable condition. The mother, Much Srey Leak, 31, was admitted to Ponleu Clinic while her son, who suffered the worst injuries, is being treated at Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital.

The driver of the car, who was uninjured, was identified as Som Nori Tikha, 19, and a resident of Chroy Changvar commune and district.

Phorn Phalla, director of the Branch Centre orphanage, knows the mother and infant and has provided them with assistance accessing healthcare in the past.
"The baby's condition is very serious as he also suffered injuries to his head and the medical team has little hope that he will recover. He is comatose and on life support with oxygen and feeding tubes," Phalla said.

Phalla said that while the three victims were receiving treatment, he received information that the driver's relatives had come forward to mediate with the victims and were offering $2,500 in compensation.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... river-case